TransLink proposes new Stanley Park Drive bus route for peak-season weekends only | Daily Hive

May 2026 map of TransLink's proposed "Stanley Park/Waterfront" bus route along Stanley Park Drive. (TransLink)

TransLink has revealed the first details about its proposed new Stanley Park bus route as part of its public consultation process for designing the service.

This would be a new bus route travelling along Stanley Park’s entire 8.5-km perimeter looping roadway — Stanley Park Drive — running counterclockwise by following the one-way traffic direction of this two-lane roadway.

The “Stanley Park/Waterfront” bus route would start and end at Waterfront Station, reaching Stanley Park Drive via Granville Street, West Pender Street, and West Georgia Street. It would also use short segments of North Lagoon Drive and Seymour Street.

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However, at least initially, this bus route would run on weekends only during the peak season — between mid-April and Labour Day in early September each year — when park visitation is greatest. It would operate every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The new bus route is already funded in TransLink’s 2025 Investment Plan, but there is currently only enough funding to operate the service on weekends during the peak season months.

The public transit authority notes that the service hours could be expanded in the future based on ridership levels and feedback received.

The Vancouver Park Board has already endorsed the service and previously indicated that it is working with TransLink to potentially launch it as early as 2027.

As for the proposed bus stop locations, this bus route would serve existing stops along West Pender Street and West Georgia Street. Within Stanley Park, TransLink is proposing to install eight new bus stops along Stanley Park Drive to serve key and popular park destinations — Info Booth, Totem Poles, Lumberman’s Arch, Pipeline Road, Prospect Point, Prospect Point Picnic Area, The Teahouse Restaurant, and Second Beach — and use the existing southbound stop at the Stanley Park Causeway.

translink stanley park bus route proposal map

May 2026 map of TransLink’s proposed “Stanley Park/Waterfront” bus route along Stanley Park Drive. (TransLink)

TransLink notes that such a bus route aligns with its 10-year expansion and improvement strategy, which includes enhancing public transit services to popular parks and recreational sites. The public transit authority already runs a number of bus routes to such destinations on a seasonal basis, including the No. 42 between the intersection of Alma Street and West Broadway and Spanish Banks Beach, which runs on weekends and holidays only from April to September each year.

As well, the service would help reduce vehicle traffic, parking demand, and congestion in Stanley Park, which are stated goals of the Park Board, while also improving general access across the 1,000-acre park.

Such a bus route would complement the existing No. 19 Stanley Park/Metrotown trolley bus route, which is the only bus route that stops inside the park, with the route’s westernmost terminus located at the Stanley Park bus loop.

An online survey is now open until May 31, 2026. It seeks feedback on aspects such as which major park destinations and features should be accessible by the new bus route, as well as suggestions for the days and hours of operation.

translink stanley park bus loop 19 trolley

TransLink’s Stanley Park bus loop, which is served by the No. 19 Stanley Park/Metrotown trolley bus route. (Google Maps)

Some Park Board commissioners have also suggested reinstating at least certain segments of the previous highly controversial temporary bike lane on Stanley Park Drive, which reduced the roadway to a single vehicle lane.

A public transit authority-operated bus route on Stanley Park Drive existed nearly three decades ago. Known as the No. 52, it ended in 1998 shortly after BC Transit’s Metro Vancouver operations transitioned to TransLink.

Shortly after the discontinuation of the No. 52, the Vancouver Park Board launched a new municipally funded free shuttle bus service along Stanley Park Drive. With an annual operating subsidy, the Park Board contracted the Vancouver Trolley Company to run the free summer-long “Round the Park” shuttle using four vintage-style buses, stopping at a dozen attractions.

In 2008, the free shuttle bus carried about 140,000 riders — mostly tourists — and helped cut vehicle traffic in peak season. However, a failed attempt to charge small fares caused ridership to plunge by 60 per cent, and budget pressures led the Park Board to end the service in 2009.

Stanley Park Shuttle Bus operated by the Vancouver Trolley Company. (Lissandra Melo/Shutterstock)

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